Finding a good and reliable PDF editor is a nerve-racking job with all these unwanted opinions flying around on the internet. Everyone has different preferences and use cases for their PDF editor, and choosing the one that suits you the best is important.

The number of applications available for Linux-based operating systems is immeasurable. But when it comes to PDF editors, only a handful of the apps top the chart. In this guide we have curated a list of the best Linux PDF editors that you can download for free on your computer.

1. LibreOffice Draw

libreoffice draw pdf editing

Beginner or experienced, there is no such Linux user who hasn't heard the name LibreOffice. Most of the resources on the internet mention that LibreOffice is the best alternative to Microsoft Office on any operating system. But does it have what you need for editing PDFs on your Linux machine?

Enter LibreOffice Draw. Although originally a 3D vector graphics editing tool, users can use the application to edit PDF files as well. While downloading a full-fledged PDF editor might be a better choice for some, LibreOffice Draw still provides decent tools and functionalities that support PDF editing.

A user can edit the text, add new images, and modify page alignment using LibreOffice Draw. To use Draw on your Linux machine, you will have to download the complete LibreOffice Suite.

To install LibreOffice on Debian-based distros, first add the official LibreOffice PPA.

        sudo add-apt-repository ppa:libreoffice/ppa
    

Then, update your system's repository list and download the package.

        sudo apt update
sudo apt install libreoffice

To install on Arch-based distributions:

        sudo pacman -S libreoffice
    

Alternatively, you can download the package manually from the LibreOffice website.

Download: LibreOffice Draw

2. Qoppa PDF Studio

qoppa pdf studio

Qoppa PDF Studio is built for PDF editing, period. It consists of all the necessary tools and utilities that you might need while modifying PDF files on your system. You can use this application to edit text, shapes, and properties of the content in the file.

PDF Studio ships with the following features.

  1. Edit text content and its properties
  2. Modify images (resize, relocate, etc.)
  3. Edit shapes and path objects
  4. Add notes, freehand drawings, hyperlinks, headers, and footers
  5. Side-by-side comparison of two files
  6. Optimize PDF file to reduce the size

Related: How to Compress a PDF and Make It Smaller

The major drawback to using Qoppa PDF Studio is that since it is a commercial application, some features of the software are only available in the paid subscription. Although you can try the full version as a trial for free, it still doesn't fill the gap.

However, for professional editors who edit PDFs on a daily basis, Qoppa PDF Studio is the most recommended application on the list.

To install Qoppa PDF Studio on Linux, download the installation script from the official website and execute it from your terminal.

        sh ./PDFStudio_linux.sh
sh ./PDFStudio_linux64.sh

Don't forget to make the file executable first using the chmod command.

        sudo chmod +x PDFStudio_linux.sh
sudo chmod +x PDFStudio_linux64.sh

Download: Qoppa PDF Studio

3. Inkscape

inkscape pdf editing

If you're into vector and graphics editing, you probably know about Inkscape already. A free and open-source application, Inkscape is preferred by professional graphic designers around the world.

Inkscape is quite similar to LibreOffice Draw, both being vector graphics software, much like Adobe Illustrator.

Related: Adobe Illustrator Alternatives for Linux

But when it comes to PDF editing, Inkscape doesn't fade into the crowd. In fact, it allows a user to edit PDF files with ease. You can use almost all the tools provided while editing PDFs. Adding a signature, inserting an image, and removing text are some of the tasks that you can perform using Inkscape.

The only drawback to using Inkscape for PDF editing is that it forces you to import the files page by page. That means you can only edit one page at a time using the application.

You can install Inkscape on Debian-based distributions using snap.

        sudo snap install inkscape
    

On Arch-based distros:

        sudo pacman inkscape
    

Related: Free PDF Editor Websites

4. Scribus

editing pdf in scribus

Like LibreOffice Draw and Inkscape, Scribus is not solely dedicated to editing PDFs. In fact, it is a free desktop publishing software that helps a user in designing the page layout of an image or a document.

When it comes to PDF editing, Scribus is quite limited in terms of the features provided. You can highlight text, move the content, and remove already existing text from a PDF file. While Scribus might not be suited for everyone who wants to edit PDFs, for someone who just wants to do light editing, Scribus would be a great choice.

To install Scribus on Debian and Ubuntu, you will need the official Scribus PPA.

        sudo add-apt-repository ppa:scribus/ppa
    

Then, update your system repository list and install the package.

        sudo apt-get update
sudo apt install scribus

Installing Scribus on Arch Linux is easy as well.

        sudo pacman -S scribus
    

5. Okular

okular view and edit pdf

Users who are a fan of the KDE desktop environment might already know about Okular, as it is the default PDF viewer provided in the KDE applications bundle. However, this doesn't mean that Okular is only limited to KDE, you can install it on any of your favorite Linux desktop environments.

Using Okular, a user can highlight text in the PDF file, add comments, insert pop-up notes, draw freehand on the page, and more. Okular is available on most of the official Linux repositories.

You can install Okular on Debian-based distributions using the default package manager.

        sudo apt install okular
    

To install Okular on Arch Linux:

        sudo pacman -S okular
    

Viewing and Editing PDF Files on Linux

When it comes to digital documents and files, PDF is the most dominant file extension used on a global scale. You can find books, certificates, notes, research papers, and documentation as PDF files online. While almost every web browser now supports viewing PDF files, those who want to edit such files need special software known as PDF editors.

To recap, these are the best PDF editors that you can download free for Linux.

  1. LibreOffice Draw
  2. Inkscape
  3. Scribus
  4. Okular
  5. Qoppa PDF Studio

Apart from Linux applications, other platforms are also available that help users in editing PDF files efficiently. Many websites also allow a user to merge, split, and rearrange PDF files using just a web browser.